Quote: (09-04-2012 03:52 PM)Bacchus Wrote:
Reed's mass certainly helps him command the screen. But there are plenty of guys larger than Reed who can't play a bad guy like this. Then look at a skinnier actor like Alan Rickman. He can play the villain just as well. His voice, body language, and the attitude behind it all make him convincing. And, coincidentally, make the panties wet.
Acting is also good for understanding the subtext present in any interaction.
True. But I think getting bigger is the most straightforward way to reduce those mannerisms that give one the appearance of weakness. I'm not just talking about the image that size confers, but also the reduced fidgeting, and the sensation of being stationary and physical 'certainty' that being bigger produces. I'm not even that big, but it's a change I've noticed from gaining ~50 lbs. When people walk into you at 200 lbs vs 150, it's a different feeling. Even standing still feels different. You don't see 'spastic' dudes with 18" guns.
It's sort of like asking how to be a player while being fat - the simplest answer is 'Stop being fat.' There may be alternative solutions. But if you come off as a dorky skinny guy like the guy in the video, gaining weight is probably the quickest route with the most ancillary benefits. That said, I've also seen nerdy guys who bulked up and still haven't changed - they haven't really 'grown into' their bigger size.
Rickman also doesn't project strength and power like Reed does, with his hunched posture, shoulders rolled forward. Rickman's face reminds me of Javier Bardem a little, who was iconic in Vicky, Christina, Barcelona. Like Reed, Bardem has that certainty, dignity, quiet confidence and gravitas.
People like to think that an appearance like Reed's can't be reproduced or effectively imitated, that it just is, that you 'have it or you don't.' False. What's distinctive about him:
*Minimal facial movement
*Strong gaze
*Even, slow speech
*Hands nowhere near his face
*Chin held up
*Completely non-approval seeking, not anxious about the outcome
*Burly build
*Deep, gravelly voice
All of these can be reproduced. The last two can't be entirely, but they can still be changed significantly.